Classifier and dewaterer.



W. J. BOUDWIN.

CLASSIFIER AND DEWATERER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1914.

Patented May 25, 1915.

W. J. BOUDWlN. CLASSlFIER AND DEWATERER. APPLICATION man NOV. 23. 1914.

L14Q793 Patented May 25, 1915.

' 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WALKER J. BOUDWIN, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, U1.

CLASSIFIER AND DEWATERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 23, 1914. Serial No. 873,615.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVALKER J. BoUDwIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Classifiers and Dewaterers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for classifying, washing, mixing, and dewatering sands and slimes of ore wherein the ore is fed up an inclined surface and out of water onto an appropriate draining surface; and my invention consists of the parts and the constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts which I will hereinafter describe and claim:

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several views, Figure l is a top plan view of an apparatus constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of an apparatus of modified form. Fig. i is a side elevation of another modified form of apparatus. Figs. 5, 5 6, and 7 illustrate modified forms of conveying devices. Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of another modification showing the use of my invention, as a drier and defrother on flotation concentrates, and the like. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail of a fragment of the cone and its attached overflow or weir of Fig. 8.

A leading object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective apparatus for classifying, washing, mixing and dewateriug sands and slimes of ore, and to this end I moimt upon a suitable foundation or framework, a pan-like structure of suitable diameter and which comprises a cone, A, the periphery of which is'turned at a suitable angle to form a rim and an annular trough, or gutter, B, which latter is of substantially conical form in cross section, said up-turned portlon or rim being provided with suitable outlets, E, for the overflow and said rim or up-turned portion of the cone being supplied with a vertical wall or rim, 0, in an intermediate part. said wall or rim being in a plane below the plane of the apicial portion of the cone and acting as an overflow or weir, behind which is formed the overflow trough or gutter, G, which communicates with the aforesaid outlets, E.

At the apex or central portion of the cone, A, there is provided an opening through which'the ore particles, advanced up the inclined sides of the cone, as hereinafter described, may be discharged, said'opening communicating with a vertical pipe, D, below the lower or discharge end of which is suitably mounted a belt or other conveyer, I. In the present case this belt or conveyer is shown as having its upper run mounted upon troughing rollers, a, which give said run of the belt a trough-shape in cross sec- Patented May 25, I915.

tion for better holding the concentrates which are delivered to the belt through the aforesaid pipe.

Appropriately mounted vertically in line with the apex of the cone, A, is a shaft, F, which is designed to be driven by any suitable mechanism, as the worm and wormwheel, K, K, shown, the lower end of the shaft being appropriately connected to suitable downwardly inclined arms, G, of which there may be any desired number. These arms are inclined so that they are disposed substantially parallel with the upper inclined surface of the cone, A; suitable bracerods, 6, or the like may be employed to support the outer portions of the arms.

The arms. G, which, as before stated, are

connected to and carried by the vertical revoluble shaft, F, have their under surfaces provided with some suitable form of rabbles, blades, or flights, or equivalent means which are designed to engage and progressively advance the sands and slimes up the inclined surface of the cone to the central discharge thereof. Various means may be employed for efiecting this result and, therefore, I show the rabbles, or flights as in the form of hoes, H, in Fig. 2, which hoes will be set at such an angle to the arms as is best suited for the purpose. If pre ferred, the flights may be in the form of disks, IP, as shown in Figs. 5, 5" which are rotatably mounted in brackets, or hangers,

H secured to the inclined arms, said disks.

bein an larl arranged with t to the dim sg lzhatyduring the sweep of the latter over the surface of the cone, A, the disks will push aside and progremvely crowd the sands and slimes upwardly over the surface of the cone, to the central discharge thereof.

In Figs. 6 and 7, I have shown the arms in the form of revoluble shafts, G, provided with a spiral conveyer, H, and to rack which is supported and held against rotation by hangers, M, or other well known means, which specific arrangement forms no essential part of my present invention. \Vith this construction it will be understood that as the arms are carrl d around to sweep over the inclined surface of the cone, A, they are at the same time rotated so that the spiral conveyers will engage and progressively advance the sands and slimes out of the water and along and over an unsubmerged portion of the inclined surface to the aforesaid central discharge.

Suitably mounted above an annular feed trough, J, into which the sands and slimes are fed, from any suitable source of supply, said annular feed trough having a series of short pipes, K, on its bottom, and which are designed to act as a feed-distributer and which deliver the sands and slimes to the surface of the cone in advance of the rabble-s, flights or means conveying the said sands and slimes up the inclined surface of the cone. it being understood t-hat the annular feed trough is suitably connected to the arms or otherwise arranged so that it may be rotated in unison with the vertical shaft, which carries the aforesaid arms.

In operation, the feed of pulp-is delivered to the annular trough; J, and it is distributed by the latter in the path of the revolving arms. The solids or heavy material settle on the inclined surface of the cone and are thence conveyed or rabbled up the said surface of said cone and onto an unsubmerged part thereof and are discharged through the opening at the apex thereof and into the pipe or passage, D, and finally onto the conveyor, if the same is employed.

During this operation the water and some solids overflow around the gutter or weir, C, which is disposed below the plane of the apicial portion of the cone, and thus complete the function of my machine.

Owing to the circular form of the cone, I am enabled to obtain a maximum settling area as well as a longer particle travel of the sands and slimes both in and out of the water, which is contained in the gutter formed around the peripheral edge, as

'shown, and inwhich gutter the lower of the rabblesor flights operate.

The circular overflow due of the slimes and long particle travel and the greater draining area gained by a machine of the type shown, is important in the art of dewatering, giving the pulps an acid bath or classifying, by which latter, I mean the washing thecone, A, is

to the presence letting them go with the of the slimes and letting them go with the overflow, if so desired. This would be obtained by speeding up the machine so as to cause the fines to be carried, if in suspension, by the agitation of the arms and rabbles.

The main object of employ the aforesaid mechanism as a dewaterer of pulp concentrates andto give the pulp an acid bath.

In Fig. 3, I show a modification of the before described apparatus, wherein the ore may be subjected to an acid bath, and to A, is steppedbetween this end, the cone,

its center and circumference to form a'second gutter-like portion, B, in which a sec ond series of arms, G, with complementary rabbles or flights operate, these arms being inclined substantiallyparallel with theinclined surface of the conical portion, A and which p'ortionhas at its center, the opening and discharge tube, D, for the concentrates which are dragged over the surface of the cone to the apex thereof. A suitable annular trough,-J, revoluble with the arms and vertical shaft, as well as the arms, G, and ore-pulp trough, J, is de signed'to receive a suitable acid, when the pulp is tobe subjected to acid treatment. In this case, the sands and slimes are rabbled or conveyed out of the water and upwardly over the inclined surface of the cone, A, and they are discharged into the acid bath in the gutter, B, formed between my invention is to the uppermost surface of the cone portion,

other, each of the pans having its central discharge opening communicating with the other and the several pans or trays deliver-' ing to a conveyer, and each .pan having its own overflow, and which arrangement may be used, if desired, and particularly where space is an important consideration.

The apparatus disclosed in Fig. 8 pos sesses the leading characteristics of those before mentioned, and showsbut another application of .my invention. In this instance, the apparatus may be used, as a drier and defrother on flotation concentrates or any other concentrates. The apparatus of Fig. 8 includes the cone-shaped pan, A, the up-turned rim ofwhich is provided with an overflow or weir, C", end flared or turned inward to confine the which has its upperfroth which may accumulate on the surface of the pulp, said vided with openings, 0, which are in a plane below the plane of the apicial portion of the cone and which permit the 'liquld to flow into .8 4 overflow or W811 being proface of the pulp and area-res the annular gutter, B, surrounding the weir and to be finally discharged at the points of overflow. The apparatus of Fig 8 is rovided witlran annular spray pipe, L, w 'ch is designed to act as a defrother; to this end it is positioned adjacent the upper surin such relation there to that its spray may act directly upon the froth accumulating under the inturned upper edge of the overflow weir, C said spray pipe being supplied with air, steam I or water, admitted thereto through an appropriate pipe, (Z, which may pass through the central discharge tube of the apparatus, as shown. The upper portion of the cone, A,

of Fig. 8, is also provided with a steam acket, U, through which steam may be admitted by a pipe, e, and from which steam jacket a suitable return pipe, f, may lead. In this case the rotary'arms, G with their rabbles or flights it advance the sands or slimes out of the water and onto and over the part of the inclined surface which is not submerged and finally onto and over the upper inclined surface of the steam jacket,'

and which latter surface acts as a hot plate or drier for the particles which pass there over.

As before described, the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 will be found useful as a drier and defrother on flotation concentrates and is equally useful for drying other concentrates.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a circular pan having a conical portion and an upturned rim forming a gutter at the base of the cone, and members operable over the conical surface of the pan having means for progressively moving sands and slimes upwardly over the inclined surface of the pan and over an unsubmerged portion thereof, said pan hav ing means for discharging solids at its apex and having ah overflow lying in a plane be low the plane of the apicial portion of the cone.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a circular pan having a conical portion and an upturned rim forming a gutter at the base of the cone, said up-turned portion having a vertical flange extending from an intermediate part over the edge of which water and slimes overflow, and members operable over the conical surface of the pan having means for progressively moving sands and slimes-upwardly over the in clined surface and over an unsubmerged portion thereof, the overflow of the pan being in a plane below the plane of the apicial portion of the pan and said apicial portion ofhgle pan having means for discharging so an intermediate partover which water and slimes overflow, and arms operable over the conical surface of the pan having means for progressively moving sands and shines upwardly over the inclined surface and over an unsubmerged portion thereof, said over flow being in a plane below the plane of the apicial port-ion of the cone and said pan having a discharge opening for solids in its apex.

a. In apparatus of the character described, a circular pan having a conical portion, an up-turned rim forming a gutter at the base of the cone, inclined arms arranged substantially parallel with the inclined surface of the pan having means for progressively moving wardly over said surface and over an unsubmerged portion thereof, said pan having an overflaw in a plane below the plane of the apicial portion of the cone and having means for discharging solids at the apex, a vertical shaft to which the inner ends of the arms are connected, and said shaft to cause the arms to sweep over the conical portion of the pan.

.5. In apparatus of the character described a circular pan having a:conical portion and an upturned rim forming a gutter at the base of the cone, arms operable over the conical surface of the pan having means for progressively moving sands and slimes upwardly over the inclined surface of the pan and over an unsubmerged portion thereof, said pan having a discharge opening for solids at its apex and having an overflow in a plane below the plane of the apicial portion. and an annular feed trough movable with the arms having outlets adapted to deliver pulp upon the inclined surface of said pan.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a circular tion and means forming at the base thereof an annular gutter. arms operable over the inclined surface of the pan having means for progressively moving sands and slimes upwardly thereover and over an unsub merged portion thereof, said pan having a central discharge for the sands and slimes, and having an overflow in a plane below the plane of the apicial portion, and an annular feed trough movable with the arms having means for supplving its contents to the inclined surface of the pan.

7. In apparatus of the character described. a. circular pan having a conical portion, and an up-turned rim forming a gutter at the base of the cone and devices operable in a circular path over the conical sursands and slimes upmeans for rotating pan having a conical porface of the pan, said devices having means tion of the pan whereby said portion acts 10 for progressively moving the sands and as a drier for the sands and slimes passing slimes upwardly over the inclined surface thereover.

' of the pan and over an unsubmerged por- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature tion thereof, said pan having means for disin presence of two witnesses. charging solids at its apex and havingan WALKER J. BOUDWIN. overflow lying in a plane below the plane Witnesses; of the apicial portion of the cone, and Y. M. OALLOW,

means for heating the unsubmerged por- ERNEST GAYFORD. 

